‘Container throughput rises in March’

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) announced a significant increase in container volumes in March, reaching 261,495 TEU, marking an 8.5% growth from the same month in 2023. Year-to-date comparisons showed a 2.9% increase to 699,382 TEU, with full imports growing by 5.6% and full exports by 14.8%.

Full international exports also saw a seven-month growth streak, increasing by 15.6% over March 2023. Additionally, full international imports increased by 17.1%, leading to a total international volume increase of 9.5%.

Domestic container volume grew by 1.8% year-to-date in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Alaska volumes increased by 4.9%, while Hawaii volumes decreased by 11.3%.

NWSA credited the continued voyage consistency and increased vessel calls in March for contributing to a strong first quarter finish in its container business. The alliance also received million from the Federal Zero-Emission Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program earlier this year to support sustainability initiatives.

In a recent development, NWSA launched a comprehensive cargo and service incentive program aimed at boosting international container rail freight volumes and enhancing service delivery in the Seattle and Tacoma harbors. This initiative is part of the alliance’s ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and sustainability in its operations.